Report: Brewers Close To Signing 1B Mark Reynolds

Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

The Milwaukee Brewers are close to signing free agent first baseman Mark Reynolds to a minor-league deal, according to Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com.

If Reynolds, 30, does in fact ink with Milwaukee, it will be a minor-league deal but sources have told Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, that Reynolds has been basically assured of a spot on the big league roster. It seems like the first base debacle that has haunted the Brewers all offseason will finally be put to an end.

Reynolds hit .220 with 21 home runs and 67 RBI in 135 games for the New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians in 2013. A swing-and-miss guy, he also struck out 154 times. He has 202 career home runs.

Assuming Reynolds makes the team out of spring training, it will be interesting to see if the Brewers decide to platoon Reynolds and Juan Francisco – Reynolds versus lefties and Francisco versus righties. Reynolds is a career .238 hitter against left-handed pitchers and a .232 hitter against right-handers, but Francisco hits over 70 points better in his career against right-handers.

Reynolds brings even more power to an already stacked lineup and will surely improve Milwaukee’s offense.

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